After a dominant win over Central Connecticut State last Thursday, Central Michigan football will look to continue the success this weekend. The Chippewas travel to Miami to face off against Florida International at 6 p.m. Saturday.

“I just want them to know how proud I am of how they came out and played the football game (against CCSU),” head coach Jim McElwain said. “There's always things that you clean up, no matter what the results. …The focus right now is, are we satisfied? Is this something … that we're just good with and move forward. What are we going to build on? And how are we going to do that?”

The Chippewas will be the first opponent to face off against the Panthers in their newly named Pitbull Stadium, after FIU announced a partnership with pop star Pitbull.

This game will be a test for CMU as it marks its first away game of the season. One of the biggest struggles for the Chippewas in the 2023 season was winning on the road, going 1-6.

“It's not anything that we're trying to hide, we have not played very well on the road,” McElwain said. “It really goes back to, you know, this team has a lot to prove and prove to itself. And this is... a learning experience, and I'm excited to see how we'll come out and perform.”

Meet the opponent

FIU comes into the matchup after a 31-7 loss to Big Ten opponent Indiana in opening weekend.

Last season, the Panthers struggled in Conference USA play going 1-7, and finishing with a 4-8 overall record. It marked FIU’s fifth-straight losing season.

Trying to turn things around in 2024, the Panthers will look to sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins, who started 11 games in his freshman campaign. In his first year, Jenkins threw for 2,414 yards with 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

“He's really a good player, and he's a guy that can hurt you in multiple ways; not only throwing, but you give him any lanes, you know, and he's going to take advantage of it,” McElwain said. “He's very mobile.

“For us, it starts with always containing a quarterback and really not allowing him to do the things that he likes to do.”

The Chippewas have only faced off against FIU once in their history, when they defeated the Panthers in 2021 in a comeback victory.

Keys to victory

As CMU looks to have its first 2-0 start since 2020, the key to victory will be to win the turnover battle, something McElwain has emphasized coming into the season.

In last week’s win, the Chippewas secured an interception while having no turnovers on the offensive side. For CMU to continue the success, it needs to continue to play mistake-free football on offense and create pressure on FIU to force turnovers on the defense.

Another key will be continuing the consistency of the passing game. Transfer quarterback Joe Labas showed his accuracy in the win against CCSU, going 18-for-24, with 342 yards passing and three touchdowns.

As the Chippewas prepare for this upcoming week, McElwain said each defense is different, which could alter how they attack on the offensive side.

“Each defense gives you a unique set of things that you need to work on and work against,” McElwain said. “We felt going into last week that was something (passing and RPO game) maybe we could take advantage of.

“Now, FIU does a good job of taking it away. …When you're putting the plan in, you've got to be multiple and you got to have answers.”

CMU’s consistent passing game, along with its depth in the run game, will be essential as it heads into Pitbull stadium this weekend.

Central Michigan (1-0) vs. Florida International (0-1)

All-time series: Central Michigan, 1-0

Time: 6 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Sept. 7

Stadium: Pitbull Stadium

Location: Miami, Florida

TV: ESPN+